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US 7,182,410 B2Granted
Bicycle hub assembly
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorSeiji Fukui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle hub cover assembly is installed on a bicycle hub to provide a hard, rigid protective cover for the bicycle hub. In one embodiment, the bicycle hub cover assembly has a hub shell cover, a first hub end cover, a second hub end cover and a pair of fasteners that attach the hub end covers to the axle of the bicycle hub. The hub shell cover is configured and arranged to be mounted concentrically around a center portion of the hub shell of the bicycle hub, while the hub end covers overlie the axial ends of the bicycle hub. Thus, the bicycle hub is completely enclosed, except for a small gap located between the hub shell cover and each of the first and second hub end covers. In another embodiment, the hub shell cover is eliminated.
Claims24
A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
- a first hub end cover having a first mounting hole;
- a bicycle hub having a hub axle and a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle, the hub shell including first and second axially spaced spoke mounting portions that are arranged and configured to have a plurality of spokes attached thereto;
- a hub shell cover overlying the hub shell of the bicycle hub, the hub shell cover extending between the first and spoke mounting portions and having a first end portion with a plurality of first spoke openings and a second end portion with a plurality of second spoke openings such that the hub shell cover substantially overlies the first and second spoke mounting portions;
- and
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and attached to a first end of the hub axle,
- the first hub end cover having a first peripheral edge and the hub shell cover having a first end portion with a first free end edge that generally matches the first peripheral edge of the first hub end cover.
3 more elements
A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
- a first hub end cover having a first mounting hole;
- a bicycle hub having a hub axle and a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle;
- and
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and attached to a first end of the hub axle,
- the first hub end cover including an axially extending tubular abutment wall arranged circumferentially around the first mounting hole and disposed radially outwardly from the first mounting hole to form an axle receiving area that is sized to receive an end of the hub axle therein.
2 more elements
A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
- a first hub end cover having a first mounting hole;
- a second hub end cover having a second mounting hole;
- a bicycle hub having a hub axle and a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle;
- a hub shell cover overlying the hub shell of the bicycle hub, the hub shell cover having a first end portion with a plurality of first spoke openings and a second end portion with a plurality of second spoke openings;
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and attached to a first end of the hub axle;
- and
- a second fastener extending through the second mounting hole of the second hub end cover and attached to a second end of the hub axle,
- the hub shell cover including a center member, a first side member, a second side member, a first connection formed between the center member and the first side member, and a second connection formed between the center member and the second side member, the first spoke openings being formed between the center member and the first side member and the second spoke openings formed between the center member and the second side member.
5 more elements
A bicycle hub assembly comprising
- a first hub end cover having a first mounting hole;
- a second hub end cover having a second mounting hole;
- a bicycle hub having a hub axle and a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle;
- a hub shell cover overlying the hub shell of the bicycle hub, the hub shell cover having a first end portion with a plurality of first spoke openings and a second end portion with a plurality of second spoke openings;
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and attached to a first end of the hub axle;
- and
- a second fastener extending through the second mounting hole of the second hub end cover and attached to a second end of the hub axle,
- the center member of the hub shell cover being a one-piece tubular member that includes a longitudinally extending hinge forming a clam shell configuration.
5 more elements
A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
- a first hub end cover having a first mounting hole;
- a bicycle hub having a hub axle and a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle;
- a hub shell cover overlying the hub shell of the bicycle hub, the hub shell cover having a first end portion with a plurality of first spoke openings;
- and
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and attached to a first end of the hub axle
- the hub shell cover including a center member and a first side member with the first spoke openings being formed between the center member and the first side member, the center member of the hub shell cover being a one-piece tubular member that includes a longitudinally extending hinge forming a clam shell configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.